Cops on the tail of cash trucks; PROTECTION: Fears over armed thugs targeting delivery vans.

Byline: By Mark Cowan CRIME CORRESPONDENT

POLICE are to tail cash delivery trucks on their Christmas rounds across Birmingham to protect them from armed ambushes.

It is feared that violent thugs could target security vans during the festive period, traditionally the busiest time of the year for the cash handling industry.

Now patrolling police cars not answering emergency calls are being told to shadow the delivery trucks to ensure they are not attacked.

The 'Follow that Van, Watch that Delivery' initiative will also see uncommitted officers and community support officers on the beat patrol outside shops and banks when deliveries are taking place.

Det Chief Insp Neil Evans said: "We aim to provide a visible deterrence and maximise the amount of intelligence we gather.

"Over recent years there has been a significant reduction in offences involving cash in transit vans. The force, in partnership with the industry, is working hard to ensure that this remains the case, particularly in the run up to Christmas."

Officers have been working with the British Security Industry in the operation, launched following a series of hold-ups across the city.

According to the latest figures, the number of offences has fallen from a high of 72 in 2003/04 to 38 in 2007/08.

There has been a slight increase this year which police are determined to reverse. Last Wednesday, an armed robber opened fire during a hold-up on a security guard making a cash drop at a post office in Stotfold Road, off Alcester Road South, Maypole. The guard was forced to hand over a cash box containing what police described as a "large quantity of cash".

Dick Hanks, British Security Industry Association National Police liaison manager, said: "The result of this effort is that it is getting harder to perpetrate a cash-in-transit attack."